Read More About Eyelid Surgery

In Denver, Colorado
The Art of Compassion    The Science of Beauty

Drooping upper eyelids and puffy 'bags' below your eyes may make you look much older and more tired than you actually feel. In fact, they may cause problems with your vision too. Dr. Fante, at the Eye and Face Center in Denver, Colorado has been successfully working on aging eyelids for many years now. He has developed just the right balance of science and art in doing this delicate surgery.

The medical term for eyelid surgery is blepharoplasty. It removes fat, excess skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. However, it cannot solve the problem of crow's feet, is not appropriate for lifting sagging eyebrows, and won't eliminate those dark 'bags' or circles under your eyes. Blepharoplasty can be performed as a single cosmetic procedure, or along within a facelift or browlift for maximum results.

Individual needs vary widely, so most questions you may have about eyelid surgery are best answered by Dr. Fante during your initial consultation.

Who Are The Best Candidates For Eyelid Surgery?
Eyelid surgery can do wonders for your appearance and can greatly boost your self-confidence! But eyelid surgery is not a magic answer to bad feelings you may have about yourself. People may not treat you differently after your surgery. That is why it is so important to have realistic expectations about the outcome, and to speak frankly to Dr. Fante to make sure all your questions are answered. You need to have a complete understanding of the procedure and the changes you will go through post-surgery.

Physically and emotionally healthy men and women are the best candidates for eyelid surgery. Generally speaking, individuals come to see a facial cosmetic surgeon after the age of 35, when they begin to notice changes due to aging. But depending on family characteristics and your lifestyle, you may want to see your facial plastic surgeon sooner.

Individuals who have certain medical conditions may be poor candidates for surgery due to the risks involved. Such conditions would be:

  • Thyroid problems
  • Chronic dry eye
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • A detached retina
  • Glaucoma

Again, honest confidential conversation with Dr. Fante is needed.

What Is Eyelid Surgery Like?
The blepharoplasty procedure generally takes from one to three hours for both eyes. If you are having both upper and lower eyelids cosmetically improved, it will take longer. Dr. Fante first works on the upper lids, then the lower.

  • You will be given local anesthetic to block pain in and around your eyes, as well as a sedative to give you a drowsy and relaxed feeling, but not to put you to sleep completely
  • Dr. Fante's incisions will follow the natural creases of your upper eyelids and the natural line just below your lower eyelashes
  • He then separates the skin from the underlying fat and muscle. He removes the excess fat and trims any sagging skin or muscle
  • He then closes the incisions with very small stitches, which will be removed in a few days

Transconjunctival blepharoplasty, another type of eyelid surgery, is done if you need fat pockets removed from the lower eyelid but don't need any skin removed. For this procedure, you need to have the thicker and more elastic skin of a younger age. Dr. Fante will then make the incision inside your lower eyelid and use very fine-tipped forceps to remove fat. This method leaves no visible scar.

Caring for Yourself After Your Surgery
In finishing up, Dr. Fante will apply special lubricating ointment and may wrap your head in a bandage. He'll give you a pain medication to reduce the soreness you'd otherwise feel as the anesthesia fades. You may not feel much soreness, as every person is different in this respect.

Dr. Fante will give you post-op instructions. Do follow them exactly to shorten your recovery period as much as possible.

  • Keep your head elevated for several days.
  • Use cold compresses to help reduce bruising and swelling. Bruises will look the worst during the first week and can last up to two months. However, every individual is different and some have minimal bruising that fades quickly.
  • Use Dr. Fante's recommended eyedrops to keep your eyes clean and moist, as they'll feel sticky at first, and may itch, or feel dry. Or alternatively, in the first weeks they may produce excess tears.
  • You may want to avoid bright lights to keep your eyes more relaxed
  • Your vision may temporarily change, getting a bit blurry, or becoming double vision for a while.

Follow-up visits will be scheduled after several days so Dr. Fante can remove stitches and monitor your healing progress. The swelling and bruising will fade and soon, you'll look fabulous, your recovery period a distant memory!

Returning to Your Daily Routine
Take things easy and be kind to yourself. If you notice extra sensitivity to wind, sun, or other bright lights, stay indoors, or wear good sunglasses. Dr. Fante will give you some special sunblock for the eyelids.

If you are a contact lens wearer, you won't be able to wear them for at least two weeks. Even then, you may experience some discomfort for a bit. But within two or three days, you'll be able to watch television and read comfortably, although it may be 10 days or so before you feel able to face the public and go back to work. At that point, if all has gone well and your surgeon has given you the go-ahead, you will be able to wear makeup to hide any bruising you still have. In the interests of helping it fully subside, avoid drinking alcohol.

Dr. Fante will ask you to restrict your activities for about five days post-surgery, and in particular to avoid vigorous activities for about three weeks. You would not want to increase your blood pressure at this time by doing any running or lifting. Patience will be the key to successful healing and your best new look after full recovery.

Enjoying The New You
When you're on the road to your new beauty, it might seem slower than ever as you start to see your new look emerging. But it is important to do everything Dr. Fante tells you in order to heal properly, so you can continue to enjoy the new you in the future.

Do not worry if the little scars remain pink for several months afterwards. They will eventually become no more than a thin whitish line in the eyelid crease. They'll be more than offset by the refreshed and youthful look your face will have. With good post-op self-care, you can expect to enjoy the new, younger you for many years to come.

At the Eye and Face Center in Denver, Colorado Dr. Fante has worked with an amazing variety of people. He offers a full range of surgical and non-surgical procedures for you to choose from or combine. His staff is also highly trained and work hard to make every person feel welcome and relaxed during their time here. Please contact us for an initial consultation.

 

If you’re interested in learning more about eyelid surgery, cosmetic surgery, eyelid lift, facelift, eyelid tuck, necklift, puffy eyelid, brow lift, plastic surgery, blepharoplasty, or any other cosmetic surgery, in Denver or Boulder, Colorado, contact Dr. Fante for an initial consultation.